Rail-joint



F. C. HARTWIG.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5, 1920.

1,378,a09 v PatentedMar. 29,1921.

A TTORNE Y FRED G. HARTW'IG, OFCHIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG'NOR TO ELIZABETH HARTWIG, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED C. HARTWIG, a citizen of the 1 United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail'Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints and more particularly to the clamping fish plate t e.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and efiicient joint of this character so formed as to effect smooth travel of the rolling stock thereover and to prevent noise.

Another object is to provide a boltless clamp adapted to be tightened into operative position by shrinkage or by being pressed on cold.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the contiguous ends of two rails with the two fish plates used in connection therewith arranged in juxtaposition ready for assembling. V

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation showing the parts assembled, and,

Fig. 3 .is a transverse section thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated two contiguous rail ends 1 and 2 are shown the meet I ing ends of which have alined terminal recesses or slots 3 and 4 and each rail end is provided at a point spaced from its meeting ends with a longitudinal slot 5, the length of the combined recesses 3 and 4: being greater than that of slots 5.

Arranged on opposite sides of the rail ends 1 and 2 and extending across the meeting ends thereof are fish or clamping plates 6 and 7 which are adapted to fit between the bases and treads of the rails.

The plate 6 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally alined spaced slots 8 and 8, the middle slot 8 being designed to register with the slots 3 and 4 in the rail ends while the slots 8' are of less length than the slots 5 in the rail ends as shown in Fig. 1 which are designed to register therewith when the plate is in operative position.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Application filed August 5, 1920. Serial No. 401,392.

[with a plurality of longitudinally alined spaced lugs 9, 9 and 9 the intermediate lug 9 being designed to pass through slots 3 and 4 in the rail ends and slot 8 in the opposed plate 6 while the lugs 9 and 9 extend through the slots 5 in the rail ends and slots 8 in plate 6. The slots in the rail ends are of lengths exceeding the lengths of the lugs to provide for expansion and contraction while slots 8 and 8 of plate 6 are of the same length as the lugs to adapt the plate 6 to be shrunk or cold pressed into operative engagement with plate 7 and thereby rigidly connect the plates, but permit the rail ends to expand and contract.

The lugs 9, 9 and 9 of plate 7 are preferably provided with apertures 10 extending therethrough from the upper to the lower faces thereof and which are designed to receive wedge-shaped keys 11 which when driven into these apertures will pre-- vent all possibility of the separation of parts.

In the application of the clamping plates when they are to be shrunken on the rail ends, the ends 1 and 2 are placed as shown in Fig. 1 and the lugs of plate 7 entered through the slots in said rail ends. The slotted plate 6 is then heated and positioned against one face of said abutting ends with the lugsv of plate 7 inserted in the slots therein. Plate 6 having been applied while heated will when it cools shrink and the walls of the slots thereof closely hug the lugs on plate 7 so that all danger of the plates becoming accidentally separated is prevented and the keys 11 being placed in the apertures 10 form supplemental safety devices. The slots 5 in the rail ends being longer than the width of lugs 9, 9 and 9 will provide for expansion and contraction of the rail ends.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the drawings and set forth in the specification, but it will be understood that any modifications within the scope of the claims may be made in the construction without departing from the prinoiple of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I claim:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with two contiguous rail ends having apertures extending through the webs thereof, clamping plates mounted on opposite sides of the jecting lugs for insertion through said registering apertures one of said plates being adapted to be shrunk or cold pressed into operative locking engagement with the other. a

2. A rail joint comprising a pair of abutting rail sections, plates mounted on- 0pposite sides of said sections and spanning the joint between them, said sections having registering terminal. slots and other slots spaced from said terminal slots, one of said plates having apertures to register with the tion. 7 V

In testimony whereof, afiiX my signaslots in the rail sections and the other plate carrying laterally projecting lugs to register and pass through the slots in the rail sections and the other plate, said lugs being 20 other plate to lock the plates together and 25 yet permit suflieient movement of the rail ends to provlde for expansion'and contracture hereto.

FRED C. HARTWIG. 

